Amazon.co.uk Review
There had to have been doubts, after Rilo Kiley lead girl Jenny Lewis successful solo sojourn with the Watson Twins (2006s sumptuous, acclaimed
Rabbit Fur Coat album), that she would ever come home to roost. There was no obvious need--she was the recognisable face of the band as it was, and had gone on to distil Rilo Kileys sharp-witted alt-country pleasantry down to its roots and add an irresistible wholesomeness, the grace of a bygone age. But we find her back fronting Rilo Kiley, if only to prove that shes an indie diva on the rise and can wear any boot she sees fit. And here, on
Under The Blacklight, we find her in sequinned disco boots ("Breakin Up" is like something off Bright Eyes
Digital Ash album if the benchmark were Donna Summers back catalogue), 60s girl group heels (the crying out for its own dance "Smoke Detector"), legwarmers ("Dejalo" is a low-light Gloria Estefan/Madonna-esque strut) and the old fashioned tan suede we were used to (the gorgeous "Close Call" should satisfy anyone who fell in love with "Its a Hit" from their last record). Its quite a distinct upturn in style for the band who forge on with steely determination, perhaps at the expense of the soft skinned appeal of
More Adventurous, but ensuring that theres enough momentum to see them safe for a few years yet. --
James Berry
Q Magazine
'An album filled with gems' 4/5
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